Propelling and lifting mechanism



July 11, 1939. H, E, MoLAUGHLlN 2,165,757

PROPELLING AND LIFTING MECHANISI Filed June 2, 1958 HmmWMM,l

,7 f77-Caf V y y me/whom Hel/3h@ /VL Patented Jul, 11,1939 2,165,757

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,165,757 PROPELLING AND LIFTING MECHANISMHugh E. McLaughlin, New York, N. Y. Application June 2, 1938, Serial No.211,451 3 Claims. (Cl. 24d- 19) This invention relates to propellersand, parmore or less diagrammatically, a propelling and ticularly, to acombined propelling and lifting lifting mechanism embodying the presentinvenmechanism for air vehicles, for instance, aerotion;

planes. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line s One object ofthe invention is the provision of 2 2 of Fig. l; a simple and eicientpropeller construction, by Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section onthe means of which a high degree, both of tractive line 3-3 of Fig. 2;and and lifting force, may be exerted. Fig. 4 is a top plan view.

Another object of the invention is the provision A portion of thefuselage or frame of the aerolo of a lifting and propelling mechanismconsisting plane or other vehicle is illustrated more or less El)essentially of a propeller of the rotary type diagrammatically at l0,the same consisting of which will function with maximum eiliciency.elongated members disposed longitudinally of the A still further objectcontemplated by the invehicle. Journaled in these members Hl is a shaftvention is the provision of a propelling and lifting il, to which poweris supplied from any suitable lu mechanism wherein upward movement ofthe source. In the present illustration, shaft Il is l5 propeller bladesis utilized for exerting propelling adapted to be rotated in acounterclockwise direcforce, thus increasing the efli'ciency of theappation, as indicated in Figs. l and 3. ratus. Mounted on shaft Il area plurality of pro- Another object is the provision of a propellingpeller blades i2 of paddle-like formation, the El, and liftingmechanism, wherein the propeller individual blades preferably being flator plane- 20 blades during the major portion of their upward surfaced.In order to increase the lifting and movement will exert a propellingforce and during propelling effect of the rotating blades, they aretheir forward, downward and rearward moveadapted to pass through acasing or housing for ment will exert both a lifting and propellingforce. substantially one-half a revolution. This casing Morespecifically, the invention contemplates a or housing is locatedsubstantially entirely above fcombined propelling and lifting mechanismcomthe members i ll and is substantially semi-circular prising a seriesof rotary propeller blades adapted in cross-section, as viewed from theside thereof. to pass through a housing located above the pro Forwardlyof the propeller shaft l l the casing or peller blade shaft, saidhousing being open at the housing is closed at its periphery by an outerwall 3 rear of the propeller shaft and formed with rai3 and, extendingradially inwardly at opposite 3Q dial, outwardly extending side walls,between side edges of said outer wall, there are side walls whichtransverse vanes are provided whereby air ifi. Thus, the side walls andthe outer wall I3 forced upwardly during the upward movement of jointlyform a threesided casing which is of a the propeller blades will impingeagainst `the cross-sectional area and contour corresponding to 53transverse vanes and exert a propelling force the contour and surfacearea of the individual y while, on the other hand, the casing, forwardof propeller blades i2. This so-called closed portion the propellershaft, is provided with side walls of the casing or housing extendsapproximately `extending radially inward and is closed at its throughout90 of the circular path of the properiphery. The cross-sectional area ofthis closed peller blades or what, for convenience, might be w portionof thel casing corresponds to the surface termed the upper, forwardquadrant of the circuof the individual propeller blades and the bladeslar path of the blades. The rear extremities of "d move forwardly anddownwardly through this the side walls are of tapered or reduced height,as closed portion, with the result that the air forced at lila, so thatcomparatively large openings I5 forwardly by the blades impinges againstthe outare provided at the sides of the housing. The

,l5 er wall of the housing or casing and exerts both outer wall i3extends a short distance to the rear 1,.; a lifting and propelling forceat its exit at the of the propeller shaft but terminates a considerlowerend of the casing. able distance above the structural members l0, Withthese and other objects in view, the inso that the casing is openthroughout this latter vention consists in certain details ofconstruction portion or at the rear thereof. However, this 50 andcombinations and arrangements of parts, all rearward portion is providedwith side members 5,9 as will hereinafter be more fully described and I6but, in this instance, the side members extend the novel featuresthereof particularly pointed radially outward from the path of thepropeller out in the appended claims. blades, as distinguished from theside walls I 4 In the accompanying drawing which extend radially inwardwith respect to the 55 Figure 1 is a side elevational View,illustrating, propeller blades and shaft. 55

, from the position shown in the f1gure,

In order to increase the propelling effect of the blades I2 during theirupward movement, at which time they normally exert a depressinginfluence, a number of more or less horizontally disposed vanes arelocated between the side wall I6 at the rear of the housing. Thesevanes, in-

'dicated at I1, are preferably arcuate in crosssection and extendradially outward between the side walls I6. The inner ends of the vanesI'I are spaced circumferentially and, as will be apparent, as thepropeller blades I2 move upwardly, air forced upwardly by the blades atthis time will escape between the side walls I6 and, of course, impingeagainst the several vanes I'l. The force of this air impacting againstthe several vanes Il and diverted rearwardly will exert a propellinginfluence on the housing and the housing being rigidly secured to thefuselage of the vehicle, this propelling action will be transmitted tothe vehicle as a whole. In other words, instead of air lifted by theblades I2 tending to lower the vehicle, the same is utilized forincreasing the propelling action of the apparatus, whereby theefficiency thereof is considerably increased.

As each blade passes forwardly beyond the last of the series of vanesI'l, it enters the tunnel or casing formed by the side walls I4 and theouter wall I3 of the housing, and the air in advance of each blade isforced against the outer wall I3 and being driven downwardly exerts alifting and also a propelling force as the vehicle advances. It willalso be appreciated that, during the movement of the blades between thepoint where they emerge from the casing to a point more than 90therefrom, which might be described as being a 'point rearwardly of theshaft II, the effect of the moving blades is to drive the machineforwardly and, to a like extent, also elevate or lift the vehicle.

To better explain, or accentuate, the eiciency of the present mechanism,the effect of each blade will now be described by reference to theparticular blade B -in Fig. 3, assuming that said blade is rotating ina. counterclockwise direction At rst the blade will exert a liftingaction by reason of the fact that it is driving the air downwardly. Thiseffect will continue until the blade has reached a substantiallyhorizontal position. After the blade passes below the horizontal, itwill continue to exert the lifting action and also the forwardly drivingaction, although it is then in the open. These combined actions willcontinue until the blade reaches a perpendicular position below theshaft II. From this point it d will continue to exert a forwardlydriving action but, as it starts to move upwardly, the normal tendencywould be to depress the casing and vehicle. However, this tendency isovercome by the presence of the several vanes II and the opening at therear of the casing, because this construction causes the air that ispushed upwardly by the blade to impinge against the vanes I'l and to bediverted rearwardly thus tending to propel the vehicle and neutralizingor overcoming the normal tendency of the upwardly moving blade to exerta depressing force. Thus,

the mechanism operates with maximum efliciency both as regards itspropelling and lifting actions.

If desired, a shield I8 may be provided over the casing, particularly atthe forward portion thereof, so as to give a stream-lined effect andthus reduce resistance in the forward motion of the vehicl-e.

What I claim is:

1. In a lifting and propelling mechanism for air vehicles, thecombination of a rotary shaft,

propeller blades mounted on said Shaft, a casing comprising arcuate sidewalls a substantial portion of which are above said shaft and an outerwall extending approximately one-half the length of the side walls, saidcasing being open rearn wardly of the shaft, the side walls of theclosed portion of the casing extending radially inwardly with respect tothe outer wall and the side walls of the open portion extending radiallyoutward,

and circumferentially spaced vanes disposed transversely between theside walls of the open portion of the casing.

2. In a combined lifting and propelling mechanisrn for air vehicles, arotary shaft, a series of propeller blades on said shaft, a casingthrough l which said blades pass in the upper forward quarter of eachrevolution, said blades being exposed during substantially the lowerhalf of each revolution, and said casing being open at its sides at therear of said shaft, and means extending rearwardly from said casingabove the shaft for deecting air rearwardly from the open portion of thecasing.

3. In a combined lifting and propelling mechanism for air vehicles, arotary shaft, a series of propeller blades on said shaft, a casinglocated substantially entirely above said shaft, said blades beingexposed below said casing throughout substantially 180, said casingcomprising opposite side walls and a peripheral wall with open- L ingsin the sides and periphery of said casing at the rear of the shaft, andcircumferentially spaced vanes extending from the open rear portion ofthe casing, said vanes being arranged horizontally with respect to theside walls of the casing.

HUGH E. MCLAUGI-ILIN.

